The letter sent back by Cao Shuo from Hedong reached Cao Cao a few days later.

After reading the letter, Cao Cao's face was very bad.

"Cao Gong, what's wrong?" Staying by his side, Guo Jia noticed that something was not quite right and asked Cao Cao.

"Look at it." Cao Cao handed the letter to Guo Jia.

After taking the letter and hurriedly browsing it, Guo Jia was stunned and said: "Gongzi wants to use troops against the Huns? ”

"No matter what, I don't know what to expect." Cao Cao said: "The Yuan family has not yet been broken, and the south has not been pacified, so he is actually going to use troops against the Xiongnu." ”

"Cao Gong is angry." Guo Jia said: "Childe must have his reason for doing this. ”

"What can he do?" Cao Cao said: "It's just to cause trouble for me." ”

"I think that Gongzi's crusade against the Huns is not necessarily a bad thing." Guo Jia said: "For Cao Gong, maybe it's still a good thing. ”

"A good thing?" Cao Cao said: "If the world is stable, he can crusade against anyone." For example, if there is chaos today, I am looking at the Yuan family before it can be defeated, and he is actually going to send troops to Hetao. In this way, the day when I broke the Yuan family will be postponed again. ”

"Gongzi does this, although the Yuan family will break through later, but Cao Gong's prestige in the Central Plains will increase day by day." Guo Jia said: "When Li Dao and Guo Yan occupied Chang'an, the Huns had plundered the Central Plains, and many Central Plains families suffered greatly. Gongzi led the army into the Hetao to fight against the Huns, did Cao Gong ever think that how many people in the Central Plains would support it? ”

Cao Cao's brows furrowed slightly.

Although Guo Jia was right, he still felt that it was too early to deal with the Huns.

"In case the son melts ......" Cao Cao twisted his brows and asked Guo Jia, "Aren't the Huns going to attack the Cao family on a large scale?" In case they join forces with the Yuan family, although we can win, it will be many years since we fight. ”

"Doesn't Cao Gong believe in Gongzi?" Guo Jia said: "Ma Teng, Han Sui and others are in Hedong, and with the ability of Gongzi, they will definitely be able to lead their army to Hetao together." The Huns could only ask for more blessings this time. ”

Looking at Guo Jia, Cao Cao said: "Since Feng Xiao also said so, I will not hold him accountable." But if he loses this battle, when he returns to Xudu, I will make him look good. ”

"Cao Gong rest assured." Guo Jia said: "When has the son been defeated! ”

Under Guo Jia's persuasion, Cao Cao wrote a letter to Cao Shuo.

At the same time that the letter was sent to Hedong, in Shouchun City, Chen Gong also received Cao Shuo's order and was recruiting soldiers and horses from all over the country.

Hearing that Cao Shuo was going to attack the Xiongnu, soldiers from all over the country asked for battle.

It didn't take long for the 50,000-strong army to be fully prepared and march towards the east of the river.

Guo Yuan was defeated, and the Xiongnu reinforcements were also wiped out by Cao Shuo in a battle, and the news reached Yecheng, and Yuan Shang was in a panic.

The whole city of Yecheng was busy reinforcing the city defenses, beware of Cao's army coming to the city again.

Yuan's mansion.

Yuan Shang sat in the front hall, flanked by Hebei's staff and generals.

"Guo Yuan is defeated, do you know?" Looking around at everyone, Yuan Shao asked, "Who else can break the enemy for me?" ”

All the people bowed their heads, and not one dared to say anything.

The judge stood up and said, "General, there is a sentence that I don't know whether to say or not. ”

"If you have something to say, just say it." Yuan Shang said: "It has reached this point, what else can't be said? ”

"I wonder if the general has heard about Cao Zirong's challenge to the Huns?" "He mobilized 50,000 soldiers and horses from Huainan, plus 30,000 men who were originally in Hedong. 80,000 troops, but Cao Zirong has used so many people for the first time since he occupied Huainan. ”

"What does the judge want to say?" His eyes narrowed slightly, and Yuan Shang asked.

"What I want to say is that Cao Zirong didn't mobilize troops and horses at all to attack the Yuan family this time." "His purpose is the Hetao," he said. ”

"The army of 80,000 is in the east of the river, in case he doesn't go to the Hetao......" Yuan Shang said: "What should we do?" ”

"Although the Cao family wants to break through Hebei, they have never used all their strength." The judge said: "Especially Cao Zirong, every time he is halfway through the fight, he withdraws when he gets some benefits." Didn't the general think about what the Cao family was for? ”

As soon as he said this, Yuan Shang realized that the situation was indeed like what he said.

The Cao family's attack on Hebei is not the first time.

However, every time it is a taste.

At most, it will only besiege Yecheng for a few days, and then the army will be withdrawn.

In front of so many people, Yuan Shang asked such a question with a somewhat ugly face: "What does the judge think they want?" ”

"If the Cao family wins Hebei now, the foundation of the Yuan family will not be destroyed, and they will not be able to stand at all." The judge said: "Whether it is Cao Cao or Cao Zirong, they both want Hebei, but they are also worried that Hebei's territory is too big and they can't eat it at one time. Therefore, it can only be eaten away gradually. Cao Zirong gathered 80,000 soldiers and horses, if he came to Yecheng, even if our army could hold it, it would not be able to withstand the next attack of the Cao family. Now is not the time for them to take Hebei, so I expect that Cao Zirong must have sent troops to Hetao this time, not to point at us. ”

"What does the judge mean......" Yuan Shang asked, "We don't have to make any preparations?" ”

"Of course you have to prepare." The judge said: "The general can order the city defense to be stabilized, and beware of the sudden arrival of Cao's army." On the other hand, the general can send scouts to find out the whereabouts of Cao Zirong's army. If they really went to the Xiongnu, Hebei would be able to get half a year of stability. ”

"Even if Cao Zi melted away the Huns, Cao Cao is still there." Yuan Shang said: "Could it be that Cao Cao will postpone attacking us? ”

"Cao Zirong provoked a war with the Huns, before the battle situation was clear, how could Cao Cao easily attack the general?" The judge said: "The general just waits for the news about Cao Zirong in Yecheng." ”

"What do you think?" After listening to the analysis of the trial, Yuan Shang asked everyone present.

The Yuan family has long been scared of the Cao family, and of course the staff and generals present hope that Cao Shuo will not send troops to Yecheng.

Everyone said to Yuan Shang: "I'll second!" ”

"Since you all think so, I'm going to take a gamble." Yuan Shang said: "If Cao Zirong can't come to Yecheng, we still have time to prepare our soldiers and horses to fight the Cao family again." If he comes, please join me in fighting the enemy! ”

"General rest assured." The crowd replied, "We have made up our minds to die!" ”

The army from Huainan had not yet reached Hedong, and Cao Cao's envoy had already arrived.

After receiving Cao Cao's order to allow him to send troops to Hetao, Cao Shuo said to Cai Ji: "You go to the Xiliang military camp and invite General Ma and General Han." ”

Cai Ji retreated in response, left the tent and went to the Xiliang military camp to invite the two of them.

(End of chapter)